Volkswagen Tiguan ute coming

Just when you thought Volkswagen had filled every vehicle niche possible, a compact dual-cab ute based on the same platform as the Volkswagen Tiguan bobs up.

Making its world premiere at the 2018 Sa~o Paulo motor show in Brazil from November 6, the unnamed all-wheel drive ute based on the same MQB platform as the Golf, Tiguan and Polo will be small.

Okay, so it probably won’t be as tiny as the iconic Suzuki Mighty Boy – probably slightly longer than a Subaru Brumby or Proton Jumbuck – and is aimed squarely at Brazil and other developing auto markets.

It should be able to carry and tow nominal amounts.

The new ute has been imagined here as the T-Roc pick-up by Kleber Silva via the Behance website and Volkswagen is clearly thinking about export markets, observing that the vehicle could "conceivably be suitable for other regions."

Will Australia be one of those markets?

"From what we understand it's been designed for the requirements of specific markets and it is difficult at this stage to see its applicability to Australia," said Volkswagen Group Australia's general manager of corporate communications, Paul Pottinger.

Dual-cab utes have always sold strongly in developing countries but as mature markets like Australia have shown, there's a strong appetite for the four-door pick-ups right across the globe.

Renault is actively seeking to bring a compact ute into Australia from Brazil, the Renault Duster Oroch, and as Pottinger added, the new VW compact ute has not been ruled out for Oz entirely.

"Traditionally compact utes haven’t been a major player here, but when we learn more about it we might revisit this."

The compact lifestyle ute's name is expected to be revealed at the Sa~o Paulo motor show.

Just a single official sketch of the small pick-up has been released ahead of the vehicle's debut and the small ute has been called a "Near-production concept vehicle" by Volkswagen.

The company plans to launch a series production version of the concept car "in the foreseeable future with just a few minor tweaks" for the Brazilian market first.

Some of the key features of the new model include a 'multivariable' tray, which can be extended via folding panels.

The press statement also has a cryptic reference to a 'digital network', which sounds like a silly way to describe online functionality.

Stay tuned for more details on the compact Volkswagen pick-up.